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Coordinates | 33°51′35.9″N151°12′40″N |
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Name | Ensenada |
Native name | |
Dot x | |dot_y = |
Pushpin map | Mexico |
Pushpin label position | bottom |
Pushpin mapsize | 280 |
Pushpin map caption | Location in Mexico |
Coordinates region | MX |
Subdivision type | Country |
Subdivision name | |
Subdivision type1 | State |
Subdivision name1 | Baja California |
Leader title1 | |
Established title | |
Established title2 | |
Established title3 | |
Unit pref | Imperial |
Area total km2 | |
Area land km2 | |
Population as of | 2005 |
Population total | 260,075 |
Population blank1 title | Ethnicities |
Population blank2 title | Religions |
Coordinates display | title,inline |
Elevation footnotes | |
Postal code type |
Ensenada (full name: Ensenada De Todos Santos, which means "Cove of all Saints" in English), or Port of Ensenada for its port, is the third-largest city in the Mexican state of Baja California. It is located 116 km (about 70 miles) south of Tijuana. The city had a 2005 census population of 260,075, with the municipality having 413,481.
Ensenada is also the municipal seat of Ensenada Municipality, one of the five into which the state is divided. Ensenada is locally referred as La Cenicienta del Pacífico (The Cinderella of the Pacific).
Located in the Bahía de Todos Santos — an inlet of the Pacific Ocean — Ensenada is an important commercial and fishing port as well as a cruise ship port of call and balneario. There is also a navy base, an army base and a military airfield, which functions as an airport of entry into Mexico.The city is backed by small mountain ranges. Due to its location on the Pacific Ocean and Mediterranean latitude, the weather tends to be mild year-round. Although the winter rain season is short and the area is prone to prolonged droughts, Ensenada sits in the heart of a wine country that is widely regarded as the best in Mexico and the Americas with the Napa Valley in California. It is said that the first vitis vinifera made it to the peninsula (specifically to the San Ignacio Mission) in 1703, when Jesuit Padre Juan de Ugarte planted the first vineyards there.
In 1882, Ensenada was designated the capital of Baja California, and attempts at developing the area were made by the English Compañía Mexicana de Terrenos y Colonización. These were interrupted by the Mexican Revolution, which left the area devastated. In 1915, the capital was transferred to Mexicali, and in 1930 the population of Ensenada was only 5,000. During the early part of the twentieth century, the city's name was shortened from Ensenada de Todos Santos to Ensenada, a change made in order to avoid confusion with Todos Santos, another town in Baja California Sur.
The twentieth-century development of Ensenada was assisted by prohibition, which sent North Americans south of their border in search of entertainment and alcohol, developing first Tijuana, then Rosarito, and finally Ensenada as tourist destinations. The Hotel Riviera del Pacífico was opened in 1930, briefly placing Ensenada on the international glamor map, but was never a sustained success (despite giving rise to the claim that the Margarita was invented there). It really flourished only in the early 1950s, at which time Ensenada's population had risen to 20,000. The hotel finally closed in 1964. It was later reopened as a cultural center and museum. By this time, other hotels had opened, and the population and economy of Ensenada had grown and diversfied towards their present status.
Ensenada is not part of any rail transport grid, although there are plans to build a rail line to the United States border in the short to mid-term future.
A few minutes south of town on Highway 1 is the second-largest of three known major marine geysers in the world. This one is known as "La Bufadora" ("The Blowhole").
Ensenada area has several celebrated surfing spots, such as San Miguel Beach, California Trailer Park, Stacks and 3 M's (Tres Emes in Spanish), which are located in the north coast of the city. Todos Santos Island (better known as "Todos") is a small island located west of Ensenada (about two hours by boat), and a world-famous surfing spot. The Billabong XXL surfing contest has been held at Todos Santos Island several times. Wave faces can reach above 60 feet on the island. Brad Gerlach, 2006 winner of Big XXL, surfed a wave of 68 feet in December 2006.
Further south in the municipality are spots famous for their excellent windsurfing.
The Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race, billed as the world's largest international sailing event, finishes in Ensenada.
The world-renowned Baja 1000 off-road race is held in Ensenada every year in late November, while the Baja 500 race is held in early June. Off-road enthusiasts use Ensenada year-round as a starting point to explore Baja California.
The gray whale's annual migration from Alaska to the lagoons of Baja California Sur between the months of December and March, and back in the months of April and May, can be seen from the coast of Ensenada. Sightseeing tours are available every day during migration season.
The nearby town of Guadalupe, was founded by immigrant Russian Molokans in the late nineteenth century. Most of the Molokan community re-migrated towards California's Central Valley in the mid-twentieth century, and a Russian Museum commemorating their legacy in the region has been established. The traditional economic activities in Guadalupe are olive and wine production. Currently, about 90% of wine production in Mexico originates in the valleys of Guadalupe and adjacent Calafia. Many local wine producers offer tours and tastings.
Every year during the month of August, the beginning of wine harvest season is celebrated in the Guadalupe Valley and in the city of Ensenada with a two week long series of cultural and culinary events, all under the title banner of Fiestas de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival). This event attracts people from all over the world.
The Ensenada Carnaval is one of the country's largest, as thousands of people gather in the streets for six days and nights.
The Sierra San Pedro Mártir mountain range and National Park is located within the municipality of Ensenada, about 240 km SE of the city of Ensenada.
There is a street in Ensenada called "la primera" (meaning the first in English). It's a classic tourism spot in Ensenada due to its many "Curios" (short for "Curiosidades" — trinkets and souvenirs) shops, restaurants, hotels, bars and popular clubs such as the Hussong's Cantina and Papas & Beer. There are plenty of things to buy and see as well as many places to go. La Primera is a very busy street, filled with tourists and locals. La Primera is just one block away from Ventana al Mar ("Window to the Sea"), a boardwalk/seawall avenue where an enormous Mexican flag is located.
La Bufadora ("The Blowhole"), is the second-biggest marine geyser in the world. It is located at the end of a long strip of shopping and markets.
A tuna embargo imposed on Mexico during the 1990s caused most of the fishing fleet to relocate to the ports of Guaymas, Sonora, and Mazatlán, Sinaloa, further south. In order to survive, Ensenada's tuna industry has shifted its focus to tuna farming, exporting the highly valued meat exclusively to Japan.
Category:Populated places in Baja California Category:Populated coastal places in Mexico Category:Port settlements in Mexico Category:Beaches of Mexico Category:Sister cities of Riverside, California
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